Cessna 208B N987FE
12 December 1995 · Sacramento, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 12 December 1995 at about 13:30 local time, a Cessna 208B registered N987FE, operated by West Air Industries, was involved in an accident near Sacramento, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 13:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sacramento, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Sacramento Metro (SMF)
- Coordinates
- 38.5107, -121.4900
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208B
- Registration
- N987FE
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- West Air Industries
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Oakland
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX96LA070
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
the pilot was given an erroneous wind velocity due to a malfunctioning wind gauge in the control tower. Factors relating to the accident were: the high/gusty wind conditions, and the pilot's improper evaluation of the actual wind condition.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Prior to taxi, the tower reported that the wind velocity was 24 knots with gusts to 27 knots. The pilot reported that while taxiing, he could not maintain the aircraft on the taxiway centerline due to strong winds. He decided to return to the ramp. When past 90 degrees of the turnaround, the aircraft tipped over onto its left wing and nose. Investigation revealed that the wind gauge in the tower had malfunctioned and was indicating 20 knots less wind than actually existed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 208 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1995 | Cessna 208B | Piedras Negras, Mexico | Transportes Aereos Coahila S.a | Fatal | 9 |
| 2 Mar 1995 | Cessna 208B | Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States | Martinaire Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Jan 1995 | Cessna 208B | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | Empire Airlines, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 Jan 1995 | Cessna 208B | Pleasanton, California, United States | West Air, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Jan 1995 | Cessna 208 | Craig, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Mar 1995 | Cessna 208B | Reno, Nevada, United States | Union Flights | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun 1995 | Ed Bergreen KIS | San Leandro, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 1995 | Spreuer COZY | Oceanside, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1995 | Cessna 182P | Susanville, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jun 1995 | Cessna 150M | Turlock, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-28-181 | Palm Springs, California, United States | Alan L. Kaplan | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-34-200 | Avalon, California, United States | Aero Club | No injuries | - |